I changed a Tube and…

@invalid Wrote:

Brent Jesse is the second best tube seller I know of, Andy at vintage tube services being number one.

I agree!

Mike

I have a nearly new Cronus Dark in my second system. Like you, I recently began some tube rolling, only the center preamp slot, because my experience in tube rolling with a CM2 was that the other tubes make only a negligible difference. 

Mostly I have been playing with new-production tubes because I generally find they tend to perform better than NOS tubes. That has been a recurring pattern in almost every tube-based product I’ve owned. Perhaps that’s only because I don’t purchase the NOS tubes that go for like $300 each.

Anyhow, I recently purchased a low-noise, matched-triodes Genalex Gold Lion 12au7 from Tube Depot. I also purchased the same JJ preamp tube that Rogue  used to supply in the CMII. Previous to these I purchased a NOS Telefunken smooth-plate. In playing with all these, this is how I would rank their performance:

Best: gold pin JJ ECC82 that came stock with the CM Dark.

Next Best: JJ ECC802S that Rogue used to equip in the CMII

Next: NOS Telefunken smooth plate.

Least Good: Genalex Gold Lion

Yup, the Gold Lion has been the least enjoyable of these, and by a rather wide margin. It could need more hours, but within the 10 or so hours I tried to tolerate it, the sound was closed in, with a very recessed midrange.

The Tele was a little grainy relative to the JJs, but then I didn’t buy a $200 example from VTS, rather a $100 one I found on ebay. 

I too will vouch for Andy at VTS: great tubes at mostly reasonable prices. Where he and I greatly differ is his appreciation for NOS RCA tubes. Every time I go with that recommendation I end up disappointed. Personally, I would only pick from his stock of Amperex, Teles, Siemens or Mullards. 
 

I have had some unpleasant experiences ordering from Brent Jesse. Two of the half dozen or so orders I received from him were total duds, completely unusable on arrival. I have had no such issues with any of the other popular tube vendors. 

helomech -Interesting take  appreciate the info . 

I had the Gold Lions sitting new for years [ forgot i had  them ]  So it was an easy choice to use one of them .

I went digging deeper into my cabinets & found all kinds of  NOS tubes  .

Most being 12au7 & 12ax7's  these were bought 2015 / 2016 - must have thought I'd tube roll down the road  ?   Have Mullards , RCA Clear tops , Telefunken , Sylvania  etc..   

I had some receipts - sellers were Brent Jesse / Andy VTS / Bryce ? 

Do not want to go down the tube rolling Hole - did that with Amps / Speakers and wind up listening to equipment not Music 

I can see the logic in new production being reliable  but sonics are tricky with any thing  NOS vs New .  I'll probably pick up the Gold Pin as that was mentioned by Bill at Rogue - he did say NOS / Vintage could be better and mentioned Jesse & Andy .

Just a thought - The Gold Lions I have are 10 yrs old - I wonder if there is a quality difference to current production ?

Seems like everything made today suffers from less quality control / cheaper materials  etc.  [ everything = TV's, Refrigerators , Washer / Dryers , AC'S / Cars , EVERYTHING!! ]

Being in my 70s and having gone to rock concerts and having front row or very close seat...like Black Sabbath 1972 the old Academy music on 14 st NYC....I never noticed the changes...